Voting in 2024

With the divide between Democrats and Republicans becoming increasingly polar, the upcoming presidential election is looking more and more uncertain. I'm Grace.

I'm Ujjaini.

And I'm Elias, and we decided to ask Oberlin students whether they plan on voting in the upcoming presidential election and why.

Keep in mind that Oberlin College holds a reputation of having a very liberal student body, and this is reflected in the political climate on campus. The opinions stated in this segment are held by the individuals, and not by the college, Tappan Square Dispatch, or us.

What's your name? Lana. Pronouns? She, her. do you plan on voting? Yes, I do. Um, why?

Why? Well, I'm from D. C., so my vote has never counted before. We have no representation, so you have to vote. Um, also because a lot of people can't vote, and so you're voting for people that don't have the ability to speak on certain issues that they are most affected by.

How do you feel about students on campus who are choosing not to vote? I think that some people believe that ignorance is bliss and that they're unaware of the privilege that they have because they're very privileged in most areas of their life and so they choose to stay silent on things that don't affect them and I think that I'm very morally opposed to not voting.

I would say I'm relatively passionate about it and it's something I could speak on for a lot longer. But, yeah, I think I, I have somewhat anger, I hold some anger towards people that are not voting. For sure. Thank you.

Hi, could you please state your name and pronouns and spell your name out as well? Yeah, my name is Ben, B E N, and my pronouns are he, him.

Awesome. Do you plan on voting in the upcoming presidential election? I do. Awesome. Why? I think that it's like a pri I think like looking at the world and the global sphere, um, politically, it's a privilege to be able to vote and to be able to have like a say so in who, governs or runs your country. So I feel like it is my duty as an American to vote. Awesome. How do you feel about people who are deciding not to vote this time?

I think that it kind of, I mean, it shows like a little ignorance to like what I just said about, um, like lack of people around the world who have lack of representation. I don't think I would like, I don't think I'd be particularly angry at the person or like, if I heard someone's not going to vote, I wouldn't really, like, it wouldn't make me angered anyway, I think it also like the perspective matters. I think that like there's groups of people in this country where I don't think it's ever seemed like their vote mattered no matter what like I think that um like certain marginalized groups.

I think like there's cultural understanding to why they don't have an interest in voting or why they think it's like useless so I don't think I would have like a lot of anger towards the person I think it depends on the person but um Also, at the end of the day, they have the right to do whatever they want to do, so, yeah.

Awesome, thank you so much!

Name, pronouns, and, , spelling of your name. My name is Nick, he, him. Nick is spelled N I C K. And, do you plan on voting in this upcoming election? Probably, yeah. Why? because my mom would be sad if I didn't. And how do you feel about students that are choosing not to vote, in this upcoming presidential election?

I think they're probably, you know, jaded by the failings of the DNC and, like Kamala is basically a neocon and supports Israel, so it kind of makes sense that you wouldn't want to have to, be coerced into voting for that, you know? Thank you.

Okay, so, what is your name, your pronouns, and spell your name also. Um, I'm Leyla, she, hers, fine, I, it's L E Y L A.

Are you going to be voting in this upcoming election? Yes, I am. Why? I'm voting. Well, it's actually my first time voting. I don't know. I feel like this election is really important. I don't, I mean, I don't want Trump to be in office. So, that's why I'm voting partially. It was really bad last time.

So, hoping for Something better. What do you say to people on campus and just in our country that have decided not to vote at all? Well, I think y'all should vote. It's very important. You know, it's a right you're given. If you can vote, you should. Um, I think, it affects everyone, not just yourself.

So, you know, if you want to help out other people, not just yourself, you should vote. What do you say to the argument that, , Not voting is a choice given to us as well. Well, that is true. I mean, everyone has, you know, freedom to do what they want. And I mean, I guess I respect that, but, um, I think if you have the right to do it, why not do it?

I mean, yeah, it's pretty awesome. So. Well, thank you so much. All right. That's great. I think you have a really good podcast voice. Yeah, I think so. Yeah.

Could you please state your name, pronouns, and also spell out your name, please? Yeah, my name is Annalise, A N N A L I S E, and I use she, they pronouns. Awesome. Do you plan on voting in the upcoming presidential election?

Yeah, I do. I am registered, but I'm waiting for my, um, like, thing to come in the mail, I guess. Why are you voting? Um, oh my god. I mean, I think This is such a important, I will actually be so upset, with Trump's policies if they, if he wins. And I think, um, I don't know, I think it's just uncomfortable not to vote and not to do.

I think voting isn't the only form of like social justice that you can do. I don't think it's the best form, but I think that if you can, if you are able to vote, then it doesn't hurt. And that I think it's, especially if you are, like, passionate about certain topics, I feel like you should do everything that you can in order to fight for those, rights for yourself and other people.

How do you feel about people who are choosing not to vote this time? Um, I think, I don't know, I, I think it maybe depends? I don't, I do think that if you are active in other ways to fight the causes that you are passionate about, then I don't think that we should be bullying people for not voting.

I do think that if somebody isn't voting just because they're like either too lazy or just like are a little bit, I don't know, confused about the process, then people should help them to vote. But I don't think that people should like absolutely be like harassing people who don't vote if they are doing other, um, advocacy work of the sort. Thank you so much!

Our next speaker wishes to remain anonymous.

Are you going to be voting in this upcoming election? I will be voting. Yeah, I'll be voting for Ohio.

Why?

I think it's extremely important to vote. Even if it feels like it's lesser of two evils when one is this bad, I think it's really good to vote. I also, I think it matters a lot more than people think it does, especially in a state like Ohio. What do you say to the people who, like the students at our school that are not voting? Just, like, do it.

Like, it's It's hard to do, like the forms and stuff are hard to sign up, like fill out, but it's because they make it hard to fill out, uh because they don't want you to vote. So, you know, fight the stupid Ohio system and get yourself heard. It's extremely important.

So you think that most people are not voting because they think it's a pain to like, do it. I think people aren't voting, if it's a pain to do it. And also if they don't like the candidates. Um, and I think that's fair. I also ,don't love everything about either candidate, but like, look, I don't want to vote for a dictator. Like, I don't, I don't want that. And I think just like. Yeah. Vote. Yeah. Vote. It's important. I'm running out of words. Thank you so much.

After our discussions today, the students we interviewed all intend to vote, but their perspectives and reasons vary.